Walmart shows commitment to seniors with Meals on Wheels donation

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — The Walmart Foundation has donated $5 million to the Meals On Wheels Association of America to help fight senior hunger in communities across the nation.

Through the grant, MOWAA will boost the efforts of senior nutrition programs, organizations that provide critical services to more than 6 million seniors in the United States currently facing the threat of hunger.

"We know that seniors are among those hardest hit by hunger in this country. Many are home-bound and rely on neighbors and community volunteer programs like Meals On Wheels to help put food on the table," said Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation. "Through this $5 million grant, we hope to bring additional attention to senior hunger and help ensure our parents, grandparents and friends who have added so much to our lives have access to healthy and nutritious food."

Part of Walmart’s $2 billion commitment to support hunger relief efforts through 2015, MOWAA will use the funding in several ways, including:

Funding "Walmart Foundation-MOWAA Building the Future" grants to help more than 100 local Meals On Wheels programs purchase stoves, refrigerators, trucks and other equipment needed in the fight to end senior hunger in local communities;

Forming the Walmart Institute for Senior Nutrition Education, a new training initiative consisting of Senior Nutrition Certificate program training sessions and online resources for senior nutrition professionals and the general public; and

Creating the MOWAA state-affiliated Training Wheels program to help organize additional MOWAA affiliated state associations across the United States.

"At Meals On Wheels, our goal is to deliver meals so that no senior goes hungry," said Enid Borden, president and CEO of Meals On Wheels Association of America. "We are thankful to Walmart and appreciate their assistance as a long-standing partner in our efforts to reduce and ultimately end senior hunger in the U.S. With this grant and their continued support, we will be able to make a difference for the thousands of seniors in America who are going to bed hungry right now."

Top markets for retailers revealed

NEW YORK — A new report released this week unveiled the top go-to markets for retailers that are looking to boost their national presence.

In the ChainLinks/Terranomics’ 2011 U.S. national retail report, the healthiest retail market in the nation was Washington, D.C., followed by San Francisco; New York; Boston; San Diego; San Jose/South Bay, Calif.; Baltimore; Philadelphia; Seattle and Pittsburgh.

The report, composed by Garrick Brown — research director for ChainLinks Retail Advisors, a leading retail real estate advisory services organization — said that the Washington, D.C., market topped the list because of the retailer demand for the area. Additionally, Brown noted, shopping center vacancy levels are low, and unemployment rates in the area are lower than any other major market in the country.

The report also highlighted what could be expected from retailers this year, noting that retailer expansion is up 40% than what was tracked in the prior year. Brown said that CVS/pharmacy would be one of the most active retailers this year, with plans to open as many as 275 stores. Although Walgreens is expected to open 200 to 300 stores this year while boosting its fresh food offerings, CVS is said to be following suit by "exploring the concept of beefing up its fresh food offerings."

Other retail chains called out in the report were Dollar General — which reported in its financial earnings Tuesday that it plans to open 625 stores in 2011 (the company opened 600 stores last year) — and Walmart, which could open as many as 400 stores across North America over the next 30 months, Brown said.

Safeway Foundation donates $100K to Japan disaster victims

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway’s charitable arm announced it would donate $100,000 and launch an employee matching pledge of up to $50,000 to help with the Japan earthquake and tsunami relief efforts.

The Safeway Foundation said the contribution will be distributed to the impacted area through the American Red Cross.

“The images of destruction that we’ve all seen are heartbreaking,” said Larree Renda, Safeway EVP and chair of the Safeway Foundation. “At this time of need, we are pleased to join with our employees, customers and communities as we collectively look for ways to make a difference.”

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